Greens back flexible work hours

Unions and individual workers would be able to bargain with employers over flexible work hours for parenting and caring for family members, under a bill being brought to parliament by the Australian Greens.

Greens MP Adam Bandt said research had shown Australians rank at the top of western nations in terms of working hours per week - an average of 44 hours for full-time workers - and most would like to work at least five hours less per week.

But the burden for men and women who have caring duties has risen, he said.

But Mr Bandt said many workplaces did not have the flexibility to allow employees to fulfil their responsibilities, especially fathers.

Under the bill, workers who had been with the same employer for more than 12 months would be entitled to request a change in work hours.

Employers could refuse a request only on reasonable business grounds, and employees who were knocked back would have the right to take the matter to Fair Work Australia.

Mr Bandt denied his proposal would make it more expensive for companies to do business or tie up employers in the industrial tribunal.

"The good employers understand that a key to productivity in the workplace is having satisfied employees who are going to give their all when they are at work," Mr Bandt told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

"The best workplaces are the ones where they have flexible working arrangements which allow employees to take care of their legitimate needs."

He said overseas experience had shown few cases went to tribunals and once employers accepted the arrangements they became part of the work culture.

Mr Bandt said the bill would also allow unions to include the arrangements in enterprise bargaining.

"Under the bill, if arrangements are made at an enterprise level, they will be the arrangements that apply at that enterprise," he said.

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